Crisis in Fed varsity over corruption

The embattled Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, FUNAAB, was yesterday suspended from office by the institution’s Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities over criminal allegations.
Also suspended were the Pro Chancellor, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe and Professor Olusola Oyewole and the governing council of the Institution.
At a congress held in front of the institution’s senate building, the association quoted Section 5.10.1 of the university’s rules and regulations as the basis for its action.
Both Oyewole and Ogunlewe are currently facing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC over criminal allegation by some staff of the university.
SSANU also restricted the duo of the VC and the Pro Chancellor from further exercising their functions as officials of the university forthwith.
At the emergency Congress, the chairman of the Association, Comrade Rotimi Fasunwon announced the suspension and was approved by the whole Congress.
The VC had, through a letter dated August 22, and signed by the Registrar of the University, M.O. Ayoola suspended three staff of the institution over their connection with the petition before the anti-graft agency.
Affected members were SSANU National Publicity Secretary, Salaam Sobbor; former SSANU National Deputy President, Emmanuel Bankole as well as FUNAAB’ former Public Relations Officer, ‘Lasun Somoye.
The VC has in the letter, a copy of which was obtained by our correspondent accused the trio of “meddlesomeness and with confirmatory evidence of your participation in some acts prejudicial to the smooth running and governance of the university.”
The VC also quoted FUNAB Act, 1992, No 48 and Section 17(2) in suspending the staff members with half pay.
The congress resolved that the VC erred in suspending the trio particularly that they were neither queried, nor made to seat before any disciplinary action was taken.
Jiboku Ayodeji, a member of the congress argued that it was abnormal for the VC of a university administration to take such a unilateral decision when himself was still under criminal investigation.
The congress thereafter marched to the Senate building, the official residence of the VC to place them under lock and key.